OroraTech Raises $27M Series B to Fight Wildfires with AI

Munich-based OroraTech has successfully closed a $27 million Series B funding round to expand its AI-powered wildfire prediction and monitoring platform. The climate tech startup leverages predictive artificial intelligence and thermal satellite data from over 25 satellites to help organizations anticipate, monitor, and manage wildfire risks globally.

The company’s core technology combines thermal infrared data collection with AI modeling to provide real-time insights for multiple use cases, including geospatial engineering, insurance risk assessment, energy infrastructure protection, and wildfire management. According to cofounder and CEO Martin Langer, OroraTech processes and aggregates massive amounts of global data, using AI to predict wildfire risks hours or even days in advance.

OroraTech has attracted significant interest from both government entities and commercial clients. The startup has secured a contract with the Greek government and counts commercial forestries, energy companies, and insurance providers among its key customers. The company operates on a subscription-based business model, charging monthly fees for API access that allows clients to integrate OroraTech’s thermal data streams directly into their own systems.

The Series B round was oversubscribed, led by Korys, the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF), and Bayern Kapital. Additional investors include Edaphone Private Impact Fund, Ananda Impact Ventures, ConActivity KG, and Findus Venture. Langer attributes the strong investor interest to OroraTech’s unique positioning at the intersection of AI, climate technology, and space tech — three sectors that have seen robust funding activity since 2023.

With the fresh capital injection, OroraTech plans to pursue aggressive expansion in the United States market and further develop its orbital sensor network to enhance data collection capabilities. The company’s 10-slide pitch deck, which successfully secured the funding, demonstrates how AI-driven climate solutions are attracting significant venture capital interest as wildfires become increasingly frequent and destructive due to climate change.

Key Quotes

We use predictive AI to try and predict the risk of wildfires. We process and aggregate a lot of data from around the globe — so we use AI modeling to inform our customers of what could happen in the next few days or even hours.

CEO and cofounder Martin Langer explained how OroraTech’s core technology works, emphasizing the predictive capabilities that differentiate the platform from traditional monitoring systems. This forward-looking approach allows clients to take preventive action rather than simply responding to active fires.

We were able to choose the right partners to scale the company, and the round was oversubscribed.

Langer described the fundraising process to Business Insider, highlighting how OroraTech’s positioning at the intersection of AI, climate, and space technology created strong investor demand. The oversubscribed round gave the company leverage to select investors aligned with their growth strategy.

Our Take

OroraTech’s success represents a maturation of AI applications beyond traditional tech sectors into mission-critical climate infrastructure. The company’s ability to secure $27 million in an oversubscribed round demonstrates that investors recognize AI’s potential to address existential threats like climate change, not just optimize business processes.

What’s particularly noteworthy is the business model’s scalability — by offering API access on subscription basis, OroraTech can serve diverse clients from governments to insurance companies without customizing solutions for each vertical. This positions them well for rapid expansion, particularly in the US market where wildfire damage has reached unprecedented levels.

The convergence of satellite technology, thermal imaging, and predictive AI creates a powerful moat that would be difficult for competitors to replicate quickly, suggesting OroraTech has strong first-mover advantages in this emerging category.

Why This Matters

This funding round highlights the growing convergence of AI technology with climate crisis solutions, particularly as wildfires intensify globally due to climate change. OroraTech’s success demonstrates that investors are increasingly backing AI startups that address urgent environmental challenges, not just consumer-facing applications.

The predictive capabilities of AI in disaster prevention represent a significant advancement over reactive approaches. By forecasting wildfire risks hours or days in advance, organizations can implement preventive measures, allocate resources more efficiently, and potentially save lives and billions in property damage. This has profound implications for insurance companies reassessing climate risk, governments managing public safety, and energy companies protecting critical infrastructure.

The oversubscribed funding round also signals that climate tech AI startups occupy a favorable position in the current investment landscape, benefiting from multiple tailwinds across AI, sustainability, and space technology sectors. As extreme weather events become more frequent, AI-powered prediction and monitoring systems will likely become essential infrastructure for governments and businesses worldwide.

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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/pitch-deck-ororatech-funding-series-b-ai-wildfires-2024-10